Last weekend I had posted about how there was a report that Paul Fronczak, an infant kidnapped from a Chicago hospital the day after he was born in 1964, had been found, but the paucity of information and the fact that only one news outlet was reporting this made me suspicious of the report’s veracity.
However, today a little additional news came out, with a quote from the FBI verifying the info. Very little information is available, just that Paul is alive, lives somewhere in rural Michigan, and does not want to go public at this time. I’m sure he’s shocked.
I hope more information will become available in time. Who knows, maybe the abductor is still alive and could be prosecuted.
The Charley Project Blog 
OMG ! Great ! Finally one of the biggest mystery was solved. I wish the abductor would pay the price for what she did to that poor family, but unfortunately, from what I learn online, the Illinois statute of limitations for her crime has passed, but still kidnapping a child is a federal crime, which does not have a statute of limitations, so yeah, let that woman pay if she is still alive
If she took Paul out of state, which is entirely likely since Paul was found in Michigan, the statute of limitations would be in abeyance until she returned to Illinois. That’s to keep people from fleeing the state, waiting until the statute of limitations expires, and getting off scot-free when they return.
Also, arguably, the crime of kidnapping didn’t end till Paul was located.
Proof that no matter how long it takes, kids can come home.
(Of course, he’ll have known his home as the one he was raised in, but you understand my point.)
WGN update their report. Very interesting that he has known about this for several months. https://wgntv.com/2019/12/18/newborn-baby-abducted-from-chicago-hospital-55-years-ago-found-living-in-michigan/
Actually… per the person brought up as Paul Fronczak the real Paul has known for more than a year.. he posted a statement today
“STATEMENT FROM PAUL J FRONCZAK
December 20, 2019
Hi everyone, it’s Paul.
We found the real Paul Fronczak more than one year ago, in late 2018, but out of respect for his desire to remain anonymous, and respect for his family, we did not go public with the story. Nor will I go into detail about it now. I hope you understand. My main mission from the start has been to reunite my mother Dora with the child who was taken from her so many years ago. I have always kept you informed of all my progress, and I’ve relied greatly on your help and support, and I will continue to rely on you all. But I know what it’s like to have your life turned upside-down overnight, and I feel this man and his family deserve their privacy.
Thank you, and check back soon.
Paul”
He was probably too traumatized to pursue it because he had cancer, then died. But it seems like if an abducted child is brought up without knowing they were abducted and love their parent then they can’t just turn off that love when hit with the truth.
I wonder if he was abducted by Linda Taylor (Or rather, that is the name she’s most well-known by.) There was quite a bit of suspicion that she may have kidnapped baby Paul, I guess.
https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/son-suspects-welfare-queen-stolen-baby-paul-fronczak/story?id=22913850
That article says the mystery baby probably went to Tennessee, though. Poor NotPaul and Paul, this has to have been difficult for both. And I see in the article Sherry posted the real Paul has had a battle with cancer. Very sad. I hope he has had a good life, despite being abducted. I always have doubts that anyone who would abduct a child is capable of taking care of them properly, but perhaps he was raised by someone else. On the other side of things, it’s so very fortunate that the man who started out as baby Paul is alive, as that is many times not the case.
The person who abducted Paul is believed to be Aurora Baty from Manton, MI. She named Paul – Kevin Rae Baty. He was raised by Robert and Lorraine Fountain from Manton, MI. Any information on these individuals, please forward to the FBI.
Would he be the Kevin Ray Baty who passed away last month? I see his obituary, and his parents are listed as Robert and Lorraine Fountain.
Yes Sonya. That’s him.
Okay, thanks. Sorry, I didn’t have a reply button below, so I replied here again. On his obituary his birth date is listed as March 11, but his real birth date would be April 26, correct? If that is correct, then it looks like he died the day before his real birth date, on April 25, 2020. It’s sad he died so young. I hope, despite the circumstances in his life (being kidnapped, cancer, etc.) that he had a good life, and was treated well.
Yes I noticed all the same things. He died a day before his birthday. It seems he had a pretty simple life.. staying where he was raised.. he was married, had three daughters. It seemed they were in his life until the end. I think his was divorced .. not sure.
The person of interest in this story is Aurora Baty. The person- his daughters believe to be their grandmother. It probably hard to believe your sweet grandma did such a thing.
Where did you get the info that it was Aurora Baty, who was the grandmother ? Are you sure of this name ?
Jessie, I saw David Fronczak post his Kevin’s obituary and mention it was his brother on FB, which he subsequently took down or made private. He also mentioned the name Aurora Baty. I assume there is a reason they are still keeping it quiet … it’s probably considered an ongoing investigation. But I get the impression Aurora is dead. I’m curious as to the story Aurora came up with .. seems her family is in denial of her actions.
Was Aurora Baty from Michigan or Illinois, and where did she live ? I can’t find her anywhere. If Kevin’s daughters knew her as Grandma then maybe Aurora claimed the baby Kevin as belonging to one of her own children. Maybe that was her story…. wish I could find out more about her or see a picture
WOW. This is BIG news. I only became acquainted by the story through this site, but it still intrigued me. It reminded me of that film “Changeling” which had (SPOILER ALERT!) a much shifter motives and an unhappy ending. I hope that both men and their families can find some form of peace throughout their lifelong ordeals.
And Changeling was a true story as well
Great news. I think that the FBI needs to provide more details in regards to the investigation. At least who may have kidnapped him, and who raised him.
We don’t need for him to come forward at this time, because of his health issues. The same for Dora.
I’m sure more info will come out. I bet the real Paul is already in negotiations to sell his life rights. That money will be helpful to pay his medical bills.
I hope he’s had a good life (cancer aside).
I’m not going to don the hair shirt just yet: Looks like the FBI is still hedging a bit.
https://apnews.com/06842a6cd1243da73d2c5ce879d97c57
Strange, that. Unless the mother has refused to submit a DNA sample they’d have to know one way or the other for sure by now.
Oh, by the way-we may have another case of either a lost kid re-emerging as an adult or a self-aggrandizing impostor who’ll be deserving of bringing back the whipping post. Someone’s claiming to be D’Wan Sims (http://charleyproject.org/case/dwan-christian-sims
):
https://apnews.com/ec383187258f30c39c56f358b85b933e
Detroit station WDIV also weighs in:
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2019/12/12/man-who-thinks-hes-1994-missing-child-dwan-sims-gives-dna-sample-to-police/
He may really believe he’s D”Wan or he may have some (ahem, ahem) Issues, but from my reading of the investigation I’ll risk the hair shirt again and opine that D’Wan is still 4.
Have you donned the hair shirt, at long last?
very similar and recent case here around Balkans. A man born 1992 , abducted by a woman that in fact killed his mother( DNA proved and all), declared that he does not care at all about his biological family and whatever, just wants to continue with his life as it is and so on. Human nature….
I think Zephany Nurse in South Africa felt the same way. Her abductor/“mother” went to prison and she lives with her mother’s partner/her “father” who was innocent of any wrongdoing in the kidnapping. She doesn’t want anything to do with her bio family. That’s what I heard anyway.
It’s a very sad situation all around and I don’t envy any of these people.
Exactly, sad and tragic for everyone involved. A man I am talking about was found due to his biological sister giving her DNA to some whatever database. His adoptive mother ( died in 2017) shot his biological mother to death in 1993. And he stays in denial.
Has there been a missing persons case opened for Jack Rosenthals (Paul #1) missing twin sister Jill?
Not that I’m aware of.
That’s unreal that his biological family disowned him and his sister. I would not to be reunited them. It would be nice if he could find his sister.
I don’t think they disowned them exactly. More like the twins disappeared and the abusive parents threatened the other children with dire physical punishment if the twins were ever mentioned again.
Off topic:
I wonder if Paul Miller has finally been found?
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/2019/12/21/joshua-tree-national-park-human-remains-found/2724249001/
If I remember right Linda Taylor had applied for pubic aid benefits in Michigan also.
Does anyone know what other names Aurora Baty may have had, or any relatives ?
Good question Jessie. I only know her as Aurora Baty .. and she let Lorraine and Robert Fountain raise Paul (aka Kevin). Lot’s of questions.
This is very confusing. I don’t see a Aurora Baty in the US. Could Lorraine have been the kidnapper?
Lorraine Frances Fountain ( Arnold ) was also associated with the last names Bowers, Aldrich, Harrison, Baty. Some of her husbands were Alexander Franklen Bowers, and Walter James Harrison. This Aurora Baty is a mystery and must have had other names. The closest info I could find was for an Audra Baty….
I have begun to think Aurora Baty and Lorraine Fountain are the same person. . Lorraine was married several times .. used various names .. I was trying to time the marriage and who Lorraine was married to at the time of the abduction in 1964.
The children he was raised with .. he didn’t seem to still be in touch with. Seems like they would have information. Also his ex-wife…
The age of the woman that abducted Paul was believed to be in her 40’s.. Lorraine would have been about 43 at the time of the abduction.
Seems Lorraine didn’t marry Robert Fountain till age 54 .. she was with another husband Walter James Harrison when Paul was abducted. He was “colored” according the the marriage document… probably not too common at the time but not sure .. Was her clock ticking and she wanted another baby? I think she had two already – Norma Ray and Joe Bowers. Did she want a white baby?
But it appears Kevin Baty grew up with the Fountains ..her ex-husband Harrison died in 1970.. the children he grew up with, as well as his ex-wife, should know something!
Jodie, please contact me at alexandertres@gmail about this case – thanks
It’s been reported that Kevin Baty has died. In Manton, Michigan. His obit is online.
He finally spoke to his bio mother by phone but never agreed to a face to face meeting.
In the Tributes section of his obit, Paul has written a note and another tribute from Loomis-Longwood family that implied being related.
I forgot to ask whether the newspaper picture that is circulated of a woman carrying a baby down the steps of the Michael Reese hospital is a picture of the abductor.
If so, has there been any attempt to identify her?
No. That is a law enforcement officer doing a reenactment.